Lucasfilm Clarifies Star Wars Expanded Universe

For many Star Wars fans, the Expanded Universe (or "EU") is a beloved and integral part of the Star Wars mythos. Star Wars books, comics, video games -- these all fall under the umbrella of supplemental content. (Basically, anything that isn't the movies or Star Wars: The Clone Wars.)

However, since Disney's buyout of Lucasfilm in 2012, there's been some concern over the EU. That is, what's still considered canon? More importantly, are old stories in danger of being overwritten? This is especially pertinent for fans of the New Jedi Order books, which will presumably overlap Star Wars: Episodes VII, VIII and IX.

Earlier today, Lucasfilm released an official announcement addressing the future of the Expanded Universe and how that will impact new Star Wars entertainment. Explained Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, "We're set to bring Star Wars back to the big screen and continue the adventure through games, books, comics and new formats that are just emerging. This future of interconnected storytelling will allow fans to explore this galaxy in deeper ways than ever before."

As for how this will play into the new Star Wars trilogy, the press release added, "In order to give maximum creative freedom to the filmmakers and also preserve an element of surprise and discovery for the audience, Star Wars: Episodes VII-IX will not tell the same story told in the post-Return of the Jedi Expanded Universe. While the universe that readers knew is changing, it is not being discarded."

To note, this is our first total confirmation that Star Wars: Episode VII will not use EU storylines. However, the release continued, previous EU content will remain in circulation, presented under a new banner called Star Wars Legends.

Exit Theatre Mode

Lucasfilm also clarified that only the six previous Star Wars films and Star Wars: The Clone Wars should be considered canon as far as previously released material, though EU elements -- including characters and worlds -- could be incorporated into canon stories, which occurred in the prequels and The Clone Wars and will be the case with the upcoming Star Wars Rebels animated series.

As expected, the first new canon to appear will be Rebels. John Jackson Miller is also writing a new novel, Star Wars: A New Dawn, that precedes the events of the TV show, with input from exec producers Dave Filoni, Simon Kinberg and Greg Weisman. For details on that book, as well three other upcoming Star Wars launch titles, click here.

Max Nicholson is a writer for IGN, and he desperately seeks your approval. Show him some love by following @Max_Nicholson on Twitter, or MaxNicholson on IGN.